Loan Forgiveness Programs
The California State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) increases the number of health care providers, including dentists and registered dental hygienists, practicing at eligible sites located in federally designated health professional shortage areas.
Eligibility requirements for practitioners include, among others:
- U.S. citizenship;
- a valid, unrestricted license to practice in California;
- employment (or pending employment) at a SLRP-approved practice site; and
- a two-year, full-time (40 hours per week) or a four-year half-time (20 hours per week) commitment.
Service years and award amounts for full-time/half-time initial and extension grants may vary from year to year; the amounts are subject to change based upon federal requirements. If awarded, an applicant may receive up to $50,000 for an initial two-year, full time commitment or four-year, part time commitment. Extensions of up to four years can be granted for varying amounts, depending on the extension year.
The California Dental Corps Loan Repayment Program offers loan repayment for dentists who work in dentally underserved areas and who provide services to at least 50% dentally underserved populations (as defined in the authorizing statute). The program will provide $35,000 for loan repayment annually for three years, to reach a total of $105,000, or the total amount of the loan—whichever is the lesser amount.
The authorizing statute requires the Dental Board of California to prioritize candidates who:
- speak one or more Medi-Cal threshold languages;
- come from an economically disadvantaged background with economic, social or other circumstances;
- have worked in a health field in an underserved area or with an underserved population; and
- are dentist specialists recognized by the American Dental Association or have met all eligibility requirements to graduate from a dental specialty residency program approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.
CalHealthCares provides loan repayment to eligible dentists and physicians whose patient caseload consists of a minimum of 30% Medi-Cal beneficiaries. Eligible dentists may apply for either a loan repayment up to $300,000 in exchange for a five-year service obligation, or a Practice Support Grant up to $300,000 in exchange for a 10-year service obligation.
